100169 N, P, and K Fertilization for Newly Established Tall Fescue.

Poster Number 339-1408

See more from this Division: C06 Forage and Grazinglands
See more from this Session: Forage and Grazinglands Poster I

Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Phoenix Convention Center North, Exhibit Hall CDE

Daniel W. Sweeney, Kansas State University, Parsons, KS, Joseph L. Moyer, Southeast Ag Research Center, Kansas State University, Parsons, KS and Jaymelynn Farney, Animal Science, Kansas State University, Parsons, KS
Abstract:
Tall fescue is the major cool-season grass in southeastern Kansas; however, meadows and pastures are often under-fertilized. The objective of this study was to determine whether N, P, and K fertilization improves yields during the early years of a stand.  The experimental design was a split-plot arrangement of a randomized complete block. The six whole plots were select combinations of P and K fertilizer levels.  Subplots were four levels of N fertilization.  The experiment was established on two adjacent sites in fall 2012 (Site 1) and fall 2013 (Site 2). First-year production of tall fescue at both sites was affected by N and P but not K fertilization. At the R5 hay harvest at Site 1, yields were high at nearly 7 Mg/ha with no P and approximately 10 Mg/ha with P additions of 12 to 49 kg/ha.  In contrast, increasing N rates tended to decrease yield at R5. For the first year at Site 2, increasing N and P rates increased measured yield at the R4 hay harvest. Second-year production of tall fescue was affected by N and P but not K at Site 1, and mainly by N at Site 2. At the R4 hay harvest at Site 1, yields were low at less than 3 Mg/ha with no P and approximately 4.5 Mg/ha with P additions of 24 kg/ha.  Yield was increased up to, but not above the 112 kg N/ha rate. For the second year production at Site 2, R4 yield was mainly affected by increasing N rates.

See more from this Division: C06 Forage and Grazinglands
See more from this Session: Forage and Grazinglands Poster I